A family that came back to life!
Merry Monday by Parris Bailey
Jn.12:1-6
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.”
It was Passover week, and just like this coming Easter most of our houses will be filled with Easter festivities, at my house we will roast lamb and gather all the grandchildren around. In this little town of Bethany the city was in a uproar. Jesus and the disciples were eating at Simon the leper’s house (who had probably gotten healed), Lazarus was there who had been raised from the dead, Mary, with her sister Martha, was there. In fact I guess you could say they all had been “raised from the dead”. But this house had other visitors, the bible says “Much of the people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there (Jesus); and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he raised from the dead.” It was a house filled with a bunch of “lookie loo’s”.
What is happening at your house? When you gather around your table this resurrection Sunday what stories will you tell? Mary sat there looking at the jar of ointment, maybe they had bought it when Lazarus had died? It was a memory of what Christ does in our lives. At that great day, she understood in her spirit that Jesus would be dying. So she took her precious ointment out and displayed spectacular love. It was loud, open, and very clear. Just like her brother, being released from those grave clothes, she too wanted the whole house to breathe in the touch that changed her life.
This Easter, when you stare at the empty tomb, are you willing to display your open love? Spurgeon writes “Let us be willing to “pour contempt on all our pride,” and “nail our glory to his cross.” Have you anything tonight that is dear to you? Resign it to him. Have you any costly thing like an alabaster box hidden away? Give it to the King; he is worthy, and when you have fellowship with him at his table, let your gifts be brought forth. Offer unto the King thanksgiving, and pay your vows unto the Most High.”